John Carl Doemling
Encyclopedia
John Carl Doemling artist, the son of potato farmers Leonard Doemling and Johanna Herrmann, was born in Sulzfeld
, Rhön-Grabfeld
, Bavaria
, Germany
. Known throughout his life as “Carl”, he spent his early years in a seminary preparing to become a priest; however, by age twelve he had opted to pursue an art career instead. He studied art in Würzburg, left home in his teens and supported himself by restoring paintings in churches and monasteries in Italy
, Switzerland
and France
.
In 1910, John Carl immigrated to the U.S. to avoid mandatory military service in Kaiser Wilhelm II’s army. He journeyed promptly to Chicago, Illinois to live with his uncle Gustav Doemling and family in the historic Pullman district. His uncle, Gustav, as general foreman in the Cabinet Department for the Pullman Palace Car Company, got Carl a job as a letterer
. Carl eventually became a draftsman and designer.
While working, Carl studied at the Art Institute of Chicago
along with Walt Disney
. He also was a member of the Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art
.
Josephine Herrmann Boigegrain wrote in her biography: "One of his fellow students at the Chicago Art Institute was a young man by the name of Walt Disney. Disney had fantastic, revolutionary ideas about doing animated artwork, pictures that moved and told a story. He proposed to Carl Doemling that they go in together on the idea. Carl thought Disney was crazy. He did not accept. He later learned how wrong he had been."
In 1919, Carl had his first solo exhibit with the Palette and Chisel Club. He displayed thirty five paintings ranging from $15 to $400 in price. During the 1920’s he made many trips to art colonies throughout the U.S. including Los Angeles
and Laguna Beach. He would have numerous exhibits throughout the U.S. during his career. In 1926, he married a fellow artist, Verleen, from California. A year later, they made plans to take up permanent residence in Laguna Beach where they both were active with the local art association, but instead moved back to downtown Chicago where he continued his work. Carl was known among artists to have painted in Brown County, Indiana
and like many Chicago painters, rented a cabin and spent summers there. His paintings are still sought after today and displayed in numerous galleries.
Sulzfeld
Sulzfeld may refer to the following places in Germany:*Sulzfeld, Baden-Württemberg, in the district of Karlsruhe*Sulzfeld, Rhön-Grabfeld, in the district of Rhön-Grabfeld, Bavaria*Sulzfeld am Main, in the district of Kitzingen, Bavaria...
, Rhön-Grabfeld
Rhön-Grabfeld
Rhön-Grabfeld is a district in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Hassberge, Schweinfurt and Bad Kissingen, and the states of Hesse and Thuringia .-History:In medieval times the region was a part of the Bishopric of Würzburg...
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Known throughout his life as “Carl”, he spent his early years in a seminary preparing to become a priest; however, by age twelve he had opted to pursue an art career instead. He studied art in Würzburg, left home in his teens and supported himself by restoring paintings in churches and monasteries in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
In 1910, John Carl immigrated to the U.S. to avoid mandatory military service in Kaiser Wilhelm II’s army. He journeyed promptly to Chicago, Illinois to live with his uncle Gustav Doemling and family in the historic Pullman district. His uncle, Gustav, as general foreman in the Cabinet Department for the Pullman Palace Car Company, got Carl a job as a letterer
Letterer
A letterer is a member of a team of comic book creators responsible for drawing the comic book's text. The letterer's use of typefaces, calligraphy, letter size, and layout all contribute to the impact of the comic. The letterer crafts the comic's "display lettering": the story title lettering and...
. Carl eventually became a draftsman and designer.
While working, Carl studied at the Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
along with Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
. He also was a member of the Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art
Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art
The Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art is an association of representational artists, founded in Chicago in 1895. Palette & Chisel is the second oldest artist organization in the United States.-Founding:As the Inland Printer reported in June 1896:...
.
Josephine Herrmann Boigegrain wrote in her biography: "One of his fellow students at the Chicago Art Institute was a young man by the name of Walt Disney. Disney had fantastic, revolutionary ideas about doing animated artwork, pictures that moved and told a story. He proposed to Carl Doemling that they go in together on the idea. Carl thought Disney was crazy. He did not accept. He later learned how wrong he had been."
In 1919, Carl had his first solo exhibit with the Palette and Chisel Club. He displayed thirty five paintings ranging from $15 to $400 in price. During the 1920’s he made many trips to art colonies throughout the U.S. including Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and Laguna Beach. He would have numerous exhibits throughout the U.S. during his career. In 1926, he married a fellow artist, Verleen, from California. A year later, they made plans to take up permanent residence in Laguna Beach where they both were active with the local art association, but instead moved back to downtown Chicago where he continued his work. Carl was known among artists to have painted in Brown County, Indiana
Brown County, Indiana
Brown County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population is 15,242. The county seat is Nashville.- History :...
and like many Chicago painters, rented a cabin and spent summers there. His paintings are still sought after today and displayed in numerous galleries.